Tube flaring means



Feb. 26, 1963 G. E. FRANCK TUBE FLARING MEANS Filed Aug. 14, 1958Geygelfia n/v,

States This invention relates to tube flaring means and in particular toflaring heads for use in tube flaring tools.

A conventional method of flaring the end of tubing, such as coppertubing, is to urge a conical flaring head rotatively into the tube end.To facilitate rotation of the flaring head and preclude tearing of thetube end during the flaring operation, certain flaring means have beendeveloped, such as the flaring means disclosed in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 693,132, now Patent No. 2,861,623, filed October29, 1957, wherein the flaring head is provided with a plurality oflaterally projecting rollers which form the tube engaging surface means.

The instant invention comprehends a flaring head utilizing a taperedform of such rollers. While tapered rollers have heretofore beenutilized in flaring head structures, the known devices have certainserious disadvantages such as susceptibility to breakage of the rollertips in normal use and necessity for extremely high accuracy inmanufacture.

The principal object of the instant invention is to provide a new andimproved roller type flaring means.

Another object is to provide such a flaring means having a new andimproved conical flaring head structure provided with frusto-conicalrollers.

A further object is to provide such a flaring means wherein thefrusto-conical rollers are arranged in a novel disposition relative tothe longitudinal axis of the flaring head.

Yet another object is to provide such a flaring means wherein each ofthe frusto-conical rollers thereof taper inwardly toward a point spaceda small distance from the head axis.

Still another object is to provide such a flaring means having a new andimproved flaring head provided with a protective conical tip elementnarrowing coaxially from adjacent the narrow termination of the rollergrooves.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a flaring means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a tip end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a shank end view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a diametric section taken approximately along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, as disclosed in thedrawing, a flaring means generally designated includes a generallyconical head 11 provided with a coaxial shank 12' adapted to beinstalled in a suitable flaring tool, such as shown in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 693,132. The generally conical head 11 includesfrusto-conical portion 11a provided with a plurality of generallylongitudinally extending tapered grooves 13 in which are receivedtapered rollers 14 which project laterally from the grooves to provide aplurality of rolling, tube engagement surfaces 14a. At the narrow end ofhead portion 11a and extending coaxially of shank 12 is a protectiveconical tip element 15 herein comprising an integral coaxial extensionof the head 11. The rollers are retained in endwise abutment with tipelement 15 by means of an overlying cap '16 carried on shank 12.

Head '11 is preferably formed of a strong, rigid maatent ice terial,such as steel, and may be case hardened and plated to provide improvedresistance to wear. In the illustrated embodiment, three grooves 13 areprovided in the head, the grooves being symmetrically related to theaxis 17 of the head. Each groove is frusto-conical having its axis 18extending in a plane of axis 17. As best seen in FIG. 4, groove 13tapers inwardly toward a point 19 spaced a small distance from the axis17 and from a point 15a at which the conical tip element 15 terminates.The narrow end of groove 13 is closed by an inclined inner end face 20defining the rear end of conical tip element 15. Thus, as best seen inFIG. 4, the narrow termination of groove 13 and point 19 (which wouldcomprise the tip point of the groove if the groove were truly conicalrather than frusto-conical) lie on opposite sides of the head axis 17.

As best seen in FIG. 4, rollers 14 are complementary to grooves 13. Therollers may be formed of a wear resistant material, such as tool steelsuitably hardened and smoothly polished to permit free rolling action inthe grooves. As a result of the frusto-conical construction, the rollers14 avoid the difliculty of breakage of fragile tips as in the fullyconical rollers now found in the art. However, because of thenovelrelationship of groove end 29 and taper point .19 relative to head axis16, the narrow end 21 of the roller 14 may be closely juxtaposed to thehead axis, thereby facilitating the flaring of small diameter tubes.

As the projected apexes 19 of the rollers 14 are spaced a small distancefrom the axis 17 of the conical head 11, the rollers have a small amountof sliding engagement with the inner surface of the flared portion oftube T. More specifically, assuming that the portion of the rollers 14engaging the outer end of the flare of the tube T has a pure rollingengagement therewith, successively more and more sliding engagement ofthe rollers with the tube flare occurs as we move along the rollerdownwardly toward the apex 19. For example, the point on the rollerhalf-way to the apex 19 from the portion of the roller engaging theouter end of the flare is closer to the axis of the head 11 thanone-half the radius of the roller at the portion thereof engaging theend of the flare. Resultingly, some sliding must occur between theroller at the half-way point relative to the tube surface, although theroller has only rolling engagement with the tube surface at the pointadjacent the outer end of the flare. As the portion of the roller havingonly rolling engagement with the tube flare is at only one pointthereof, the burnishing action in effect occurs over substantially theentire surface engaging the flared portion of the tube. The amount ofburnishing effected is controlled by the spacing of the apex 19 from theaxis 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the burnishing action is made tobe quite small by virtue of the small disclosed spacing of the apex 19from the axis 17.

Conical tip element 15 provides additional protection againstinadvertent breakage of roller ends 21. For this purpose, the largediameter end 22 of the tip element which is adjacent groove ends 20 isradially larger than the adjacent portion of the stem. Thus, roller ends21 are disposed behind tip element portion 22 and elfectively protectedthereby against chipping and similar damage. Further, the flare angle oftip element 15 is made similar to the flare angle of the head 11 (and,thus, to the surface of revolution defined by the outermost portion ofthe rollers as the head is rotated about axis 17) thereby directingundesired forces away from the roller ends 21 and further preventingdamage of the roller ends. In illustrating the invention, the flare isshown to be 37, it being understood that the invention com- 3 prehendsflaring means arranged for other flare angles as desired.

As conical tip element 15 is integral with head 11, it would have asliding action against a tube being flared rather than a rolling actionsuch as is had between the tube and rollers 14. Thus, it is desirablethat the diameter of large portion 22 of the tip element be less thanthe internal diameter of the smallest tube normally intended to beflared by flaring means 10. Illustratively, where the smallest tube tobe flared is one having a A2" internal diameter, the diameter of portion22 may be approximately .107.

In utilizing flaring means 10, shank portion 12 is installed in asuitable tool device (not shown) for concurrently rotating and advancingthe head 11 axially into a tube end T. Engagement of tube T is byrollers 14 only and, thus, a rolling, low friction flaring operation iseffected. Upon completion of the flare, the flaling means is withdrawnin the conventional manner. As a result of the improved rollingengagement, the tube is uniformly and smoothly flared, therebyeliminating, in most instances, requirement of subsequent burnishing.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head having aconical tip portion terminating in a point on the axis of the head, saidhead further being provided with at least one frusto-conical groovehaving its axis extending in a plane of the axis of the head, the wallof said groove tapering inwardly toward an apex spaced a small distancefrom said head axis and the terminating point of said tip portion; and acomplementary frustoconical roller in said groove and projectingtransversely outwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surfacehaving primarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of slidingengagement with a tube being flared thereby.

2. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head having aconical tip portion terminating in a point on the axis of the head, saidhead further being provided with at least one fnlsto-conical groovehaving its axis extending in a plane of the axis of the head, the wallof said groove tapering inwardly toward an apex spaced from said headaxis and opposite the portion of the head in which the groove isprovided and from the terminating point of said tip portion; and acomplementary frustoconical roller in said groove and projectingtransversely outwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surfacehaving primarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of slidingengagement with a tube being flared thereby.

3. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head provided witha frusto-conical portion, a conical portion extending coaxially from ajuncture with the frusto-conical portion at the small end of thefrustoconical portion and having its tip spaced from the point towardwhich the frusto-conical portion tapers, and at least one frusto-conicalgroove in said frusto-conical portion having its axis extending in aplane of the axis of the head, said groove tapering inwardly toward anapex spaced from the axis of the conical head, said groove terminatingshort of said head axis at the juncture of the frusto-conical andconical portions of the head; and a complementary frusto-conical rollerin said groove and projecting transversely outwardly therefrom toprovide a tube engagement surface having primarily rolling engagementand only a small amount of sliding engagement with a tube being flaredthereby.

4. The flaring means of claim 3 wherein the conical portion and thefiusto-conical portion are flared substantially equiangularly.

5. Tube flaring means comprising: a generally conical head provided witha frusto-conical portion, a conical portion extending coaxially from ajuncture with the frusto-conical portion at the small end of thefrustoconical portion and having its tip spaced from the point towardwhich the frusto-conical portion tapers, said conical portion of thehead being integral with said frustoconical portion, and at least onefrusto-conical groove in said frusto-conical portion having its axisextending in a plane of the axis of the head, said groove taperinginwardly toward an apex spaced from the axis of the conical head, saidgroove terminating short of said head axis at the juncture of thefrusto-conical and conical portions of the head; and a complementaryfrusto-conical roller in said groove and projecting transverselyoutwardly therefrom to provide a tube engagement surface havingprimarily rolling engagement and only a small amount of slidingengagement with a tube being flared thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,561,418 Duda Nov. 10, 1925 1,615,306 Lorraine Ian. 25, 1927 1,680,798Maupin Aug. 14, 1928 2,499,630 Clark Mar. 7, 1950 2,711,771 Wilson June28, 1955 2,711,773 Wilson June 28, 1955 2,727,559 Franck Dec. 20, 19552,861,623 Franck Nov. 25, 1958 2,962,079 Wilson Nov. 29, 1960 o d" i

1. TUBE FLARING MEANS COMPRISING: A GENERALLY CONICAL HEAD HAVING ACONICAL TIP PORTION TERMINATING IN A POINT ON THE AXIS OF THE HEAD, SAIDHEAD FURTHER BEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE FRUSTO-CONICAL GROOVEHAVING ITS AXIS EXTENDING IN A PLANE OF THE AXIS OF THE HEAD, THE WALLOF SAID GROOVE TAPERING INWARDLY TOWARD AN APEX SPACED A SMALL DISTANCEFROM SAID HEAD AXIS AND THE TERMINATING POINT OF SAID TIP PORTION; AND ACOMPLEMENTARY FRUSTOCONICAL ROLLER IN SAID GROOVE AND PROJECTINGTRANSVERSELY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM TO PROVIDE A TUBE ENGAGEMENT SURFACEHAVING PRIMARILY ROLLING ENGAGEMENT AND ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF SLIDINGENGAGEMENT WITH A TUBE BEING FLARED THEREBY.